Spain paves the way for DAB+
29.07.2011
- Spain 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND TRADE
12913
Resolution of July 13, 2011, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, which publishes the decision of the Council of Ministers of June 10, 2011 by approving the plan of digitizing terrestrial sound broadcasting service.
The Council of Ministers at its meeting of June 10, 2011, approved the plan for digitization of terrestrial sound broadcasting service.
Considering the publicity required of that Agreement, I have decided to order their publication in the "Gazette" for which purpose the text contained below.
Madrid, July 13, 2011.-The Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Information Society, Juan Junquera Early.
Agreement of the Council of Ministers approving the Plan of digitalization of terrestrial sound broadcasting service
Law 7 / 2010 of March 31, General Audiovisual Communication, which came into force on May 1, 2010, regulates transitional provision fifteenth digitizing terrestrial sound broadcasting service, establishing the obligation of the Government pass a comprehensive technical plan for digitization of terrestrial sound broadcasting service.
Pursuant to the transitional provision, the Plan will be developed scanning respecting existing licenses for the provision of audiovisual services for medium-wave radio broadcasting (MF) radio broadcast on VHF frequency modulation and digital terrestrial radio broadcasting which will be adapted and transformed into the new digital technology.
Also, the General Law on Audiovisual Communication states that for the preparation of the Plan, the Government will promote better coordination with the agents of the sector of telecommunications and the electronics industry and automotive, among others.
As for the term of approval, the Law states that the Plan be adopted within eighteen months from the entry into force of the statute.
Finally, the General Law on Audiovisual Communication provides in connection with the Plan of digitalization of the terrestrial sound broadcasting, the Government submitted to the European Commission and the Council a proposal to coordinate the states of the Union for the global scan and joint broadcasting services.
This Agreement is to approve the Plan of digitalization of terrestrial sound broadcasting service to comply with the legal mandate enshrined in the transitional provision fifteenth of the General Law on Audiovisual Communication.
One of the key objectives of the planning and spectrum management is getting the most efficient use possible of it. The introduction of new digital technologies in nature is a key element to achieve this by specifying the least amount of spectrum to provide a service that is needed that use analog technology. Thus, improving the variety and quality of services can be provided. The digitization of radio will be taking advantage of the many advantages that digital technology offers both users and broadcasters.
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From the standpoint of service providers, digital technology allows you to configure single frequency networks, making it possible to receive a program on the same frequency at different territorial levels (country, region ...). The use of single frequency network may be optimal for covering large areas, whereas the local coverage may require a schedule which uses multi-frequency signaling the alternative, to keep the receipt of a specific radio network.
Digital technology also allows more efficient use of radio spectrum and to achieve greater coverage, and offer a greater number and diversity of content. In this way, they can provide targeted programs aimed at audiences defined, allowing the emergence of new business models.
As regards the advantages that this technology will report to users, the digital radio is an improvement in overall quality of the reception, understood not simply as an improvement in perceived quality of the sound signal, but well as the absence of multipath problems (moving vehicles) and interference between stations. Furthermore, with the possibility of using single frequency networks avoided, in a definitive manner, the need to change the frequency dial to hear the same program in different geographical areas. This will get consistent quality, which depends on the type of modulation used radio as in analog AM and FM.
Moreover, users of digital radio as well as having a wider choice of programs may also have access to improved services (with new features) or new services (data transmission or interactive services) and formats (text, images).
In Spain began digital broadcasts on a regular basis, with DAB technology in 2000, remaining from this date to present 18 programs nationwide. However, maintenance of these emissions are not so far been translated into an increase in park or digital receivers so the number of digital radio listeners. Have also been made in Spain by public and private broadcasters, several tests with DRM technology. Have also been made regular broadcasts on medium wave band since 2005 and on shortwave since 2007, public broadcaster from the state level. All these tests can provide a basis for progress in this area.
In compliance with the legal mandate established in Law 7 / 2010 of March 31, General of Communication Studies, is now adopted the Plan of digitalization of terrestrial sound broadcasting service.
In preparing this Plan has benefited from the participation and input from stakeholders in both the radio broadcasting industry, such as telecommunications and industry. In fact, the Digital Radio Forum, an association which includes licensees of terrestrial sound broadcasting service, telecom operators, manufacturers and other industry players has made the fulfillment of a series of compromises necessary for the proper development of the Plan Scanning.
The digitization plan includes taking a series of measures that can be grouped into five areas:
1) Change the technical plan of terrestrial digital sound broadcasting. This change will take place through the adoption of a royal decree's main purpose is to ensure continuity of service of terrestrial digital sound broadcasting licensees by providing the same flexibility that allows you to adapt to market reality without compromising threaten the economic viability in the present circumstances.
2) Conducting a study on the possible redistribution programs of operators in each of the current multiple.
3) Conducting of promotion and promotion of digital radio.
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4) pilot testing to assess the technical feasibility of digitizing the analog radio on medium wave and frequency modulation technology with the use of DRM / DRM +.
5) Conducting a study on the conditions and requirements for establishing a date for switching off analogue terrestrial sound broadcasting.
The measures included in this plan is a starting point the analysis of the current situation of digital radio in Spain and take into account trends and measures being carried out in different European Union countries, so that measures are included to contribute to the adoption of a common strategy for digital radio in Europe to facilitate its effective implementation and provides certainty to the sectors involved in this market.
By virtue of the proposal of the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, the Council of Ministers at its meeting on June 10, 2011 resolved:
First.
Approve the Plan of digitization of terrestrial sound broadcasting service in the terms described below.
The Plan initially included scanning the following five steps:
1. Changing the National Technical Plan of radio-land, approved by Royal Decree 1287/1999 of 23 July.
The change, which will take place through the adoption of a Royal Decree, aims to:
a) expressly states the principle of technological neutrality so as to be migrated to the technology DAB +, in line with the resolutions adopted by industry players in Spain, as well as the initiatives being undertaken in other countries the European Union.
b) Change the coverage requirements to facilitate the implementation of new technology.
Is reduced, temporarily, the obligation to cover 50% of the population, 20%. A period of 1 year from the approval of the royal decree, which must give you 20% coverage with technology DAB +, which should be similar to existing coverage in FM (indoor, tunnels, etc.). In those areas in which they provide.
2. Study of the possible redistribution programs of operators in each of the current multiple.
This measure aims to allow, where appropriate, the group of operators who have common objectives in its strategy to boost digital radio, so they can submit a joint bid, harmonious, complementary and not competitive with each program manifold, offering a program different from that of analog radio, which can be a logical incentive to digital radio listeners face.
Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Information Society will consider proposals for the redistribution of programs submitted by licensees of digital sound broadcasting service of national land.
3. Advocacy and promotion of digital radio.
Reducing coverage obligations accompanied by the obligation to provide actual coverage (similar to that in FM) in areas where such coverage is provided, and the introduction of a new technological standard. These CVE: BOE-A-2011-12913
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measures aim to concentrate efforts for the introduction of digital radio in areas that can provide the conditions necessary to carry out advocacy and promotion of digital radio.
Advocacy and promotion of digital radio as detailed below will be carried out taking into account all relevant sectors: operators, manufacturers, distribution companies, automakers, etc.. And will have as main objectives:
- Increase the supply of receivers (once cleared technological uncertainties), and also taking into account receptor portable devices such as stereos, radios, mobile phones, MP3, MP4, etc.
- Ensure that there is programming from the concession operators of terrestrial digital radio licenses quality content and differentiated with respect to that issue today in analog radio and also exploit the advantages offered by technology.
- Seek agreements with the automotive industry for vehicles capable of tuning systems include digital radio. This should be accompanied by the deployment of the network to provide coverage on major roads (motorways, ...).
In particular, assume, for the Digital Radio Forum, the following commitments to contribute to the relaunch of digital radio services:
- Develop standard DAB DAB + as a substitute for currently used.
- Developing through the DAB + system and thanks to the MPEG Surround, the ability to broadcast with multi-channel sound quality improvement that entails, especially in the issuance of certain events (concerts, sporting events, etc.)..
- Promote the development of agreements with the automotive sector for the incorporation of digital radio receivers in vehicles.
- Once you clear the technological uncertainties regarding the standard to use, industry, consumer electronics maker will undertake the appropriate actions that allow the existence in the market for an appropriate supply of digital radio receivers of various types and applications. Also facilitate the process of marketing terminals across different distribution channels.
- The licensed operators of digital radio service nationwide, promote the provision of programming for digital radio.
4. Pilot testing.
Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Information Society, together with the licensed operators of terrestrial digital audio broadcasting evaluate the results of pilot tests to date, and in accordance with the conclusions reached will develop a test plan pilot to make, which will aim to assess the technical feasibility of digitizing the analog radio on medium wave and FM technologies using DRM / DRM +. In particular, consider the need to perform the following actions:
- Continue to test for scanning medium wave DRM technologies, establishing a Test Plan with specific objectives.
- Begin testing to assess the feasibility of digitizing the FM + DRM technology.
- Evaluate the network configuration with DAB + technology needed to provide coverage similar to the currently existing AM and FM, with special emphasis on indoor coverage, tunnels and roads.
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5. Conducting a study on the conditions and requirements for establishing a date for switching off analogue terrestrial sound broadcasting.
The Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Information Society, in collaboration with the Digital Radio Forum will conduct a technical study to assess the conditions that must be met to establish a date for analogue switch off.
This study will assess conditions for relocating the existing licenses to digital terrestrial sound broadcasting with analog technology.
Second.
Submit to the European Commission and European Council Plan digitization of terrestrial sound broadcasting in compliance with the provisions of the fifteenth transitional provision of Law 7 / 2010 of March 31, General of Communication Studies. CVE: BOE-